Sole laying machine



March 21, 1933. 5, F|NN some LAYING mcmrw' Filed July 29. 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 105 7, Nl/E/V TOR- Mirth 21, 1933. 5. J. FINN 1,902,399

SOLE LAYING CHINE Filed July 29. 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 2.

M 1933- 5. J. FINN SOLE LAYING MACHINE Filed July 29, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 G o e Patented Mar. 21, 1933 UNITED sures PATENT; OFFICE SIDNEY J. FINN, 0F BEVERLY, IASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR '10 UNITED SHOE MACHINERY CORPORATION, OF PATTERSON, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION 01 NEW JERSEY SOLE LAYING MACHINE Application filed July 29,

This invention relates to machines for layin outsoles upon the bottoms of shoes and is' erein illustrated as embodied in a machine for laying a sole of unvulcanized rubber upon the bottom of a shoeto which the sole is to be vulcanized.

After the lasted shoe is otherwise complete, except for the vulcanizing step, a sole of unvulcanized rubber is placed in pos1t1on upon the bottom of the shoe and pressed into place against the bottom of the shoe, its projecting margin (if it has one) being at the same time bent up and pressed against the margin around the lower portion of the shoe. A machine for performing this operation, which has gone into wide use, is shown in Patent No. 1,495,163, granted May 27, 1924, upon an application filed in the name of Casgrain. In machines of this type the bottom of the shoe, with the sole in place thereon, is pushed down by a jack against a substantially flat rubber diaphragm which forms the top wall of a pressure box, thereby bending the diaphragm into the box; and then a fluid, such as Water, is forced into the box to wrap the diaphragm about the sole and the lower portion of the shoe. In order to support the diaphragm against the water pressure, such machines have been provided with a steel plate located above the diaphragm and having a sole-shaped opening through which the bottom of the shoe is pushed prior to the application of the water pressure. Inasmuch as the bottom of a shoe is larger in outline than is a crosssection of the upper portion, there is a considerable space around the upper part of the shoe between it and the edge of the soleshaped opening in the diaphragm-supporting plate at the time water is forced into the box, so that the diaphragm is unsup ported in this locality.

According to one feature of the present invention the supporting means .for the diaphragm has an opening therein large enough to permit the bottom of the shoe to pass through it and is so constructed that the size of the opening may thereafter be decreased so that the edge of the opening will lie closer to the sides of the shoe. In the 1927. Serial No. 209,297.

illustrated machine this means takes the form of marking-off means in the form of plates which "are caused to close against the sides ofthe shoe after the bottom of the shoe has passed through the opening and rests upon the diaphragm at some distance below the opening. There is thus substantially no space at all between the edge of the opening in the diaphragm supporting means and the adjacent portion of the shoe so that, when the water is forced into the pressure box, the diaphragm is supported at substantially all oints either by the shoe or by the plates. s a consequence of this construction a very flexible diaphragm and a high fiuid pressure may be employed; and soles may be more readily laid on shoes of dilficult shapes such, for example, as those having very high arches into the concavities of which portions of the soles 'must be forced.

According to another feature of the invention, the shoe is forced against the jack and thus held, before the opening in the diaphragm-supporting means is completely closed about the shoe. In the illustrated machine the jack is normally located at one side of and somewhat above the pressure box and is swung over the top of the last of the shoe after the lasted shoe has been placed upon the diaphragm; and then, before the opening in the diaphragm-supporting means has been closed about the shoe, the shoe is forced up against the jack.

These and other features of the invention including certain details of construction and combinations of parts will be described as embodied in an illustrated machine and pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings,

Fig. 1 is an end elevation of a machine in which the present invention is embodied;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the machine;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a portion of the machine with most of the jack mechanism removed to show more particularly the top of the pressure box; and

Fi 4 is a vertical section IV V of Fig. 3.

In all of the figures the plates are shown closedabout the upper portion of the shoe;

and in Figs. 1, 2, and 4 the jack occupies a position above the lasted shoe.

Before proceeding to a detailed description of the machine, a brief description of its mode of operation will be given. Referring more particularly to Fig. 4, the pressure box 5 is in communication with an upright cylinder 9 of a water pump so that water may be forced into the box when desired. The rubber diaphragm 15 forms the top of the pressure box. It is loosely' held in place and its middle portion. rests upon a plate 21. Located above the diaphragm are four plates (Fig. 3) a back plate 47, a front plate 49, and two side plates 51, 53. The back plate 47 is adjustable but is stationary during the operation of the machine, and normally the front plate and the two side plates are held in their outer positions so that a lasted shoe 100 with an unvulcanized rubber sole 200 on its bottom may be passed through the opening between the plates into a position in which it rests upon the diaphragm 15. When it has been so placed, a treadle is depressed and the following movements take place:

The front plate 49 moves into contact with the front of the shoe and, at the same time, a jack post 133 is swung from a posi tion at one side of the pressure box into the position shown in Fig. 4 in which its contact member 129 is located above the top of the last 300. Next, the plate 21 is pushed up to force the toe portion of the shoe against the under side of the plate 49 and the top of the last against the contact member 129. Then the side plates 51, 53 are moved into contact with the shoe as shown best in Fig. 3. The edges of all the plates have upon them a layer of rubber, and the construction is such that there is substantially no space whatever between the edges of the plates and the adjacent portions of the shoe. After the shoe has been positioned in this manner and the plates closed about it, the water pump forces water into the pressure box to wrap the diaphragm about the lower portion of the shoe and thereby to press the body portion of the sole against the bottom of the shoe and to bend up the margin of the sole and press it against the lower margin of the shoe. The parts of the machine then return to their initial normal positions and come to rest.

The pressure box 5 is fastened by bolts 7 to the upper end of the cylinder 9 of the water pump, the lower end of this cylinder being bolted at 11 (Fig. 1) to the base of the machine. This cylinder, which is thus really a. part of the frame of the machine, contains a piston 13. The rubber diaphragm 15 is held in place by a casting 17 having an oval-shaped opening therein, said casting being fastened to the walls of the pressure box by cap screws 19. Underneath the diaphragm is the plate 21 having four pins extending down from near its four corners, two of which are indicated in Fig. 4 at 23. The pins extend down through ho es in levers 25. These levers are arranged in pairs and one pair is shown in Fig. 4. The levers of each pair are pivoted respectivelyat 27, 29 to the box, and each pair is geared together at the inner ends of the members thereof so that the levers are compelled to move in unison about their pivots. The pins are surrounded b springs 31 the purpose of said springs mg to accommodate the plate 21 to the position of the shoe as determined by the contact of the top of the forepart of the shoe with the front plate 49 and of the top of the last with the jack member 129. The levers 25 are urged at all times to'swing in directions to ralse their outer ends by springs 33 which rest upon the bottom of the box and extend up into sockets in the levers. In Fig. 4 the plate 21 has been pushed up, as has been explained. Normally it is held down by a bell crank lever 35 pivoted to the casting 17 at 37 and having a cam surface 39 on its lower arm adapted to engage a roll 40 on an arm 42 which is rigid with the hub of the left-hand lever 25. A roll 41 on the upper arm of the bell crank lever 35 is adapted to be engaged by a cam surface 43 on a slide bar 45. When the bar is moved to the left, as viewed in Fig. 4, the surface 43 engages the roll 41, rocks the bell crank lever 35 about the pivot 37 and thereby-idepresses the outer ends of the lev rs 25 and causes the plate 21 to descend. his lower position of the plate, as has been explained, is its normal inoperative position.

Referring now more articularly to Fig. 3 in which the plates 4 49, 51 and 53 are best shown, the back plate 47 is sildable in guideways formed in opposite edges of cap' pieces 125, 126 which are held down upon the casting 17 by bolts 127. The back plate 47 may be adjusted by a thumb screw 55 (Fig. 4) which is threaded into the casting '17 and has a collar 57 which is received in a groove in a bracket 59, said bracket being fast to the plate 47 The back plate may thus be adjusted for different sizes of shoes but remains stationary after it has once been adjusted. It has at its forward edge a recess of a shape to fit around the back of the shoe at about the level of the top of the forepart of the shoe.

The front plate 49 is at the same level as the back plate and is also slidable in guideways formed in the opposite edges of the cap pieces 125, 126. It has formed in its operative edge a recess of a shape to fit around the front of the shoe. This front plate 49 is operated by a link 65 pivoted at 67 to the plate and at 69 to the upright arm of a bell crank lever 71 the hub of which-is rotatable on a rod 73 carried by a bracket which is part of the pressure box 5. The horizontal arm of the bell crank lever 71 (Fig. 4) is ivoted to a oke 75 into the stem of w ich is threa ed the upper end of a rod 77. The lower end of this rod (Fig. 1) is threaded into a. yoke 79 which is pivoted to the outer end of an arm 80, the hub of said arm being rotatably mounted upon a rod 83 (Fig. 2). Integral with the left-hand end of the hub of the arm (Fig. 1) is an upwardly extending arm 85 having at its upper enda roll 87 which runs on a suitably shaped cam mounted on the cam shaft 89.

The side plate 51 (Fig. 3) has bolted to it a rack 90 which meshes with a gear 91 rotatable on a spindle carried by the casting 17. A rack bar 93 meshes with a gear which is beneath the gear 91 and rigid with it so that, when the rack bar is moved to the left, the plate 51 is moved toward the shoe. The rack bar 93 is driven from the counter shaft 89 (Figs. 1 and 2) by mechanism similar to that which has been described in connection with the front 'plate 49. Referring more particularly to Fig. 2, the right-hand end of the rackbar is connected by a link 95 with the upright arm of'a bell crank lever 97, the hub of which is rotatable on the rod 73. The horizontal arm of the bell crank lever 97 is pivoted at 99 to a yoke 101 into the stem of which is threaded the upper end of a rod 103, the lower end of the rod having a yoke 104 pivoted at 105 to the outer end of an arm 81 the hub of which is rotatable on the rod 83. Integral with the hub of the arm 81 is an upright arm 107 having a roll 109 which runs on a cam carried by the cam shaft 89.

The other side plate 53 (Fig. 3) has bolted to it a rack 113 which meshes with a gear 115. Beneath the gear 115 and rigid with it is a gear 197 which meshes with a rack on a rack-bar 117. The right-hand end of the rack bar 117 is connected by a link 119 with the upper end of an upright arm 121 the hub of which'is rotatable on the rod 73. Instead of having separate connections from this hub to the cam shaft of the machine, the hub of the arm 121 is connected with the hub of the arm 97 by a member 123 which is integral with both hubs. As a conse quence of the construction described above,

the two side plates 51, 53 move equally in opposite directions.

The side plates 51, 53 are located directly beneath the back and front plates 47 and 49 and are slidable on top of the casting 17, and are held down by the cap pieces 125, 126 which are suitably cut out on their under sides to receive the plates and, as has been explained, are fastened to the casting 17 by cap screws 127. The side plates are guided by means of the racks 90, 113 which run in groovesformed in the under side of the cap 9 pieces 125, 126.

During the operation of the machine, as has been explained, the shoe is .held from upward movement by a jack or hold-down comprising a member 129 pivoted at 131 to the bottom of a jack post 133. In the-fig ures this jack post is shown in position over the last but, when there is no shoe in the machine, this jack postis swung to one side. Referring" more particularly to .Fi 1, the jack post 133 is received in a soc etin a casting 135 which connects two threaded rods 137, 139. The casting is connected at both ends with the rods in substantially the same manner, and consequently only the connection at the right-hand end will be described in detail. This end of the casting has a bore to receive a headed sleeve 141 which is threaded on the rod 139, the sleeve being held from longitudinal movement with respect to the casting by a. collar 143 which is threaded on the bottom of the sleeve. The left-hand end of the casting 135 has a sleeve 145 similar to the sleeve 141 but having on its lower end a bevel gear 147. The upper ends of both sleeves have sprockets around which passes a chain 149 so that the two sleeves are compelled to rotate in unison. The bevel gear 147 'meshes with a bevel. gear 151 rotatably mounted on a shaft 153 which is carried by the casting 135. A crank 155 provided with a handle 157 provides means for rotating the gear. 151 so as to raise or lower the casting 135 and with it the jack post so'as to provide. for shoes of diiferent'heights. The rod 137 has at its bottom a circular head held down upon the cap piece 126 by a socketed member 159 fastened to the cap piece by cap screws 161. The head at the lower end of the rod 137 is loosely held so that the rod 'is free to rotate. is free to swing about the axis of the rod 137 and has a slot 163 near its bottom which, when the jack is in its operative position above a shoe, receives an edge of the cap piece 125 so as to be locked tightly against upward movement. In order to strengthen the whole jack structure a heavy brace 165 of curved form is pinned at one end at 167 to the rod 137 and at the other end at 16-9 to the rod 139.

In order to provide means for swinging the jack about the axis of the rod 137, the brace 165 has an arm 171 (Fig. 3) which has a square slot to receive a square block 173 pivoted on a pin 175 carried by a sliding bar 177 so that, when the bar is reciprocated, the jack is swung from operative to inoperative position or vice versa. This bar 177 is slidable in a slot in the top of the cap piece 126, and held down by short straps 179. The bar 177 is reciprocated from the counter shaft 89 by mechanism similar-to The rod 139 that which operates the front and side plates 49, 51, and 53. The right-hand end of the bar is connected by a link 181 with the upright arm of a bell crank lever 183 the hub of which is rotatable on the rod 73. The horizontal arm of this bell crank lever is pivoted to a fork 185 (Fig. 1) into the stem of which is screwed the upper end of a rod 187 the lower end of which is pivoted to a substantially horizontal arm the hub 189 of which is rotatable on the rod 83. The hub 189 is connected by a bar 191 with the hub of the arm 80 by which the front- )late 49 of the pressure box is operated. onseqnently, when this front plate is moved into the position shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the jack is swung over the shoe so that the contact member 129 at the bottom of the jack post 133 is directly above the top of the last.

The three connecting rods 77, 103, and 187 of which the rod 103 is best shown in Fig. 2 are all substantially alike, and each has a spring which is like the one surrounding the rod 103. This spring rests at its bottom upon a lug 193 and engages with its upper end the under side of a nut 195 threaded on the rod 103, the purpose of the spring being to hold the cam roll 109 against its cam.

Referring again to Fig. 4, it has been explained that the plate 21 is normally held down by the engagement of cam surface 43 formed on the bar 45 with the roll 41 on the bell crank 35. It has also been explained that the plate is released after the front plate and jack post are in place with respect to the shoe. This bar 45 (Fig. 3) has a rack which meshes with the gear 197 located below the gear 115, and rotatable on the same spindle as is the gear 115. When, therefore, the gear 197 is rotated by the rack bar 117 to move the side plate 53 toward the shoe, the rack bar 45 is moved to the right so that the cam surface 43 is withdrawn from the roll 41 and the springs 33 are free to push up the plate 21.

hen the machine is at rest, that part of the cylinder 9 above the piston 13 and the pressure box 5 below the diaphragm are filled with water, the piston then being at the bottom of its stroke. During the operation of the machine the piston is caused to make one reciprocation by means of a connecting rod 199 the lower end of which encircles an eccentric on the cam shaft 89. In order to control the degree of pressure applied to the diaphragm, a passageway 201 (Fig. 1) which leads from the bottom of the pressure box to an overflow box 203, is controlled by a valve 205, the pressure necessary to open the valve being determined by a spring 207. The stem 209 of the valve passes loosely through a bushing 211 which is rigid with the frame of the machine. A

nut 212, which is threaded on the lower end of the sleeve, has a spiral toothed gear to mesh with a similar gear 213 rotatably mounted in a bracket 215 on the.frame.' A crank handle 217 (Fig. 3) furnishes means for turning the nut 212, and thereby increasing or decreasing the tension of the spring 207. The lower end of the spring rests on a washer supported by a nut 218, and the upper end of the spring bears against the under side of the nut 212. A pipe 219 (Fig. 1) leads from the passageway- 201 to a pressure gage 220 so that the operator may readily observe the effect of varying the tension of the spring 207. It is necessary that the valve 205 be held open during most of the down stroke of the piston so as to permit surplus water to run back into the pressure box 5. To this end the bottom of the stem 209 of the valve is engaged and pushed up at the proper time y the outer end of an arm 221, the hub of which is rotatable on a small shaft 223.-

On the same hub is a second arm 225 the outer end of which has a bore to receive the upper end of a vertically sliding pin 227, the lower end of said pin resting upon the outer end of an arm 229 (Fig. 2) pivoted to the frame of the machine at 231. The outer end of this arm 229 has a roll 233 which runs in a suitably shaped cam track in the gear 234 which is fast to the shaft 89. Then the outer end of the arm 229 rises, the valve 205 is opened. In order to permit the extent of the opening of the valve to be varied, a thumb screw 235 thread-- ed into the bore in the outer end of the arm 225 engages the upper end of the sliding pin 227. The mechanism for opening the valve and permitting it to close is operated in such manner that the valve is normally closed when the machine is at rest. At this time the piston 13 is at the bottom of its stroke. When the machine is started and the piston moves up to the top of its stroke, the valve is opened by the pressure of the water. Shortly after the piston starts down, the valve is opened by the mechanism which has been described, and remains open until the piston has nearly reached the bottom of its stroke. At this time the valve is allowed to be closed by the spring 207 so that the last part of the downward movement of the piston pulls the diaphragm down upon the plate 21.

The cam shaft 89 from which all the moving parts of the machine are driven in the manner which has been described above, is itself driven in the following manner. The gear 234, which is fast to the shaft, meshes with a small driving pinion 235 which is fast on a shaft 237. Loose upon the shaft 237 is a worm gear 239 driven by a worm 241 which is coupled directly to the shaft of a motor 243. The shaft 237 may be clutched to the worm gear 239 when desired by depressing a treadle 245. The clutch mechanism, indicated as a whole at 247, will not be described since the details of its construction form no part of the present invention, and any suitable clutch which will cause the cam shaft 89 to make one revolution and come to rest may be used.

The operation of the machine is as follows. When the machine is at rest, the jack occupies a position at one side and abovethe pressure box, the back plate is in its stationary adjusted position the front and' side plates of the pressure box are in thelr outer positions, and the diaphragm-supporting plate 21 is at its lowermost position. The operator takes a lasted shoe 100 with an unvulcanized rubber sole 200 lightly attached to its bottom, and places the shoe upon the diaphragm 15 with the rear portion of the shoe in engagement with the back plate 47. He then depresses the treadle whereupon the following movements occur. The front plate 49 moves in to engage the front of the shoe, and at the same time the jack is swung over the pressure box until its contact member is just above the top of the last 300. The side plates then begin to move in, and as soon as they start to move, the bar 45 is withdrawn from the roll 41 so as to permit the spring 33 to push up the plate 21 and thereby force the shoe up against the front plate 49 and the member 129 ofthe jack. It should be particularly noted that the side plates do not move into contact with the shoe until the shoe has been firmly gripped by the action of the plate 21. If the side plates were permitted to engage the shoe before the shoe was pushed up by the plate 21, there would be a strong tendency to produce wrinkles in the sides of the shoe. The side plates finish their inward movement, the four plates now occupying the positions shown in Fig. 3 so that there is substantially no space whatever between the edges of the plates and the sides of the shoe. The piston 13 has started up just prior to the end of the movement of the side plates. As it continues its upward movement, the pressure in the box rises until the desired degree has been reached as determined by the tension of the spring of the relief valve 205, whereupon that valve opens and surplus water flows into the overflow box 203. At this time the diaphragm 15 has been wrapped tightly about the lower portion of the shoe so as to press the sole firmly into place. All this has taken place during half a revolution of the cam shaft 89. During the remaining half, the piston, the plates, and the jack are returned to initial position, the valve 205 being first opened by the arm 221 in the manner which has been described above, and held open until the piston reaches nearly the bottom of its stroke before being allowed to close. I

Certain subject-matter herein disclosed is also disclosed in applicants co ending applicatlon Serial N0. 352,278, filed April 3,

1929; and all subject-matter common to the in said copendacting in timed relation first to operate said means to decrease the size of the opening and then to apply pressure through the diaphragm to the shoe.

2. A machine of the class described havmg, in combination, a pressure box one wall of which comprises a flexible diaphragm, a jack adapted to support a shoe against pressure applied through the diaphragm, a plurality of members located outside the dia-. phragm and normally spaced apart to provide an opening through which the bottom of the shoe may pass, and connected mechanisms acting in timed relation first to operate said means to decrease the size of the opening and then to force fluid into the box. 3. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a pressure box one wall of which comprises a flexible diaphragm, a jack adapted to support a shoe against pressure applied through the diaphragm, a plurality of members located outside the diaphragm relatively movable from open to closed position, the inner edges of the mem bers when in closed position defining a zone extending substantially entirely around the shoe, means for causing such relative movelI)nent, and means for forcing fluid into the 4. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a pressure box one wall of which comprises a flexible diaphragm, a jack adapted to support a shoe against pres sure applied through the diaphragm, a diaphragm support located outside the dia phragm and having an opening large enough to permit the bottom of the shoe to pass through it, means for operating the support to decrease the size of the opening to a size and shape corresponding substantially to that of a cross-section of the shoe in a locality above the level of the forepart of the Is)hoe, and means for forcing fluid into the ox. Y

5. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a pressure box one wall of which comprises a flexible diaphragm, a jack adapted to support a shoe against pressure applied through the diaphragm, means for forcing fluid into the box to wrap the diaphragm about the lower portion of the shoe, and supporting means for the diaphragm adapted to engage the sides, front, and back of the shoe at about the level of the top of the forepart of the shoe.

6. A machine of the classdescribed hav ing, in combination, a pressure box one wall of which comprises a flexible diaphragm, a jack adapted to support a shoe against pressure applied through the diaphragm, a diaphragm support comprising a back plate, a front plate, and side plates, one of said plates being stationary during the operation of the machine, the other plates being movable to close about the sides of the shoe, and means for forcing fluid into the box.

7. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a pressure box one wall of which comprises a flexible diaphragm, a jack adapted to support a shoe against pressure applied through the diaphragm, a plurality of shoe-engaging plates including front and back .plates having in their opposite edges recesses of outlines to correspond approximately to the curves at the front and back of a cross-section of the shoe at a level above the forepart of the shoe, means for moving certain of the plates to cause the shoe to be engaged, and means for forcing fluid into the box.

8. A machine of the class described having. in combination, a pressure box one wall of which comprises a flexible diaphragm, a jack adapted to support a shoe against pressure applied through the diaphragm. a back plate having a recess to fit about the rear of the shoe. a front plate having a recess to fit about the front of the shoe, one of said plates being stationary but adjustable and the other movable. two movable side plates. means for operating the movable plates to cause the shoe to be enlgaged, and means for forcing fluid into the 9. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a pressure box one wall of which comprises a flexible diaphragm, a jack adapted to support a shoe against pressure applied through the diaphragm. a back plate having a recess to fit around the rear of a shoe, means for adiusting the plate to provide for shoes of different sizes. a front plate located at the same level as that of the back plate and having a recess to fit about the front of the shoe, side plates adapted to engage the sides of the shoe. means for moving the front and side plates into contact with the shoe, and means for forcing fluid into the box.

10. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a pressure box one wall of which comprises a flexible diaphragm, a

jack for supporting a lasted shoe against pressure applied through the diaphragm, a member located beneath the diaphragm and normally occupying its lowermost position, means for movin the member, and with it the shoe, upward to force the'lasted shoe against the jack, and means for thereafter forcing fluid into the box.

11. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a pressure box one wall of which comprises a flexible diaphragm, a jack for supporting a lasted shoe against pressure applied through the diaphragm, a member located beneath the diaphragm, yielding means tending at all times to move the member upwardly, means normally holding the member down, means for releasing the member to permit the yielding means to force the lasted shoe against the jack, and means for forcing fluid into the box.

12. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a ressure box one wall of which comprises a exible diaphragm, a jack for supporting a lasted shoe against pressure applied through the diaphragm, a plate located beneath the diaphragm, levers for supporting the plate, means for swinging the levers in directions to raise the plate and force the shoe against the jack, and means for forcing fluid into the box.

13. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a pressure box one wall of which comprises a flexible diaphragm, a jack for supporting a lasted shoe against pressure applied through the diaphragm, said jack being normally above and at one side of the box to permit free access to the diaphragm while the shoe is being placed upon it, means for moving the jack into operative position above but out of contact with the shoe, means acting thereafter to move the shoe up against the jack, and means for forcing fluid into the box.

14. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a pressure box one wall of which comprises a flexible diaphragm, a jack for supporting a lasted shoe against pressure applied through the diaphragm, said jack being normally above and at one side of the box to permit free access to the diaphragm while the shoe is being placed upon it, means for moving the jack into operative position above the shoe, means acting thereafter to force the shoe against the jack, plates for engaging the sides of the shoe in a zone extending around the shoe above the diaphragm, and means for forcing fluid into the box.

15. A machine of the class described hav ing, in combination, a pressure box one wall of which comprises a flexible diaphragm, a jack for supporting a lasted shoe against pressure applied through the diaphragm, said jack being normally at one side of the pressure box so as to permit free access to the diaphragm while the shoe is being placed upon it, diaphragm-supporting means located above the diaphragm and normally in open position to permit the lower portion of the shoe to pass through it, means for moving the jack into position over the shoe for holding it stationar above the lasted shoe and for closing the iaphragm-supporting means about the shoe, and means for forcing fluid into the box. 1

16. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a pressure box one wall of which comprises a flexible diaphragm, a. jack adapted to support a lasted shoe against pressure applied through the diaphragm, the jack being normally located at one side of the box and at a level only slightly higher than that of the top of the last of the shoe when the bottom of the shoe is resting upon the diaphragm, means for moving the jack into position over the top of the last and for holding it stationary in that position, means for moving the last up against the jack, and means for forcing fluid into the box.

17. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a pressure box one wall of which comprises a flexible diaphragm, a jack adapted to support a lasted shoe against pressure applied through the diaphragm, the contact member of the jack being normally located at one side of the box and at a level slightly higher than that of the top of the last of the shoe when the bottom of the shoe is resting upon the diaphragm, means for moving the jack into position over the top of the last, means for moving the shoe to force the last against the jack, diaphragmsupporting means substantially surrounding the shoe, means for closing said last-named means about the shoe so as to support the diaphragm over a substantially unbroken area entirely around the shoe extending substantially to the sides of the shoe, and means for forcing fluid into the box.

18. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a pressure box one wall of which comprises a flexible diaphragm, a jack adapted to support a lasted shoe against pressure applied through the diaphragm, means for forcing fluid into the box, said jack comprising a threaded rod rotatable about its longitudinal axis but otherwise incapable of movement, a second threaded rod, means for fastening the rods together so that the second rod may rotate about the axis of the first, a carrier having threaded connection with both rods, and a jack post mounted in the carrier.

19. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a pressure box one wall of which comprises a flexible diaphragm, a jack adapted to support the shoe against pressure applied through the diaphragm, diaphragm-supporting means having an opening therein, a member located in opposition to the jack, means for causing relative movement between the member and the jack to grip the shoe, means for closing the opening about the sides of the shoe, and means for forcing fluid into the box.

20. .A sole laying machine having in combination, a support for a shoe, a ack normally located at one side of a shoe which rests upon the support, means for swinging the jack about an axis extending heightwise of the shoe into operative position above the shoe and for holding it stationary in that position, means for moving the shoe up against the jack and means for thereafter applying pressure to the sole to force it into firm contact with the shoe.

21. Apparatus for pressing footwear the said apparatus comprising a last, a fluidbacked, elastic diaphragm, means for forcing one of the same toward the other to press a sole on the last by contact of the diaphragm with the sole, and a rigid member surrounding the last at a substantial distance from the sole thereof and presented to the upper surface of the toe portion of the last for limiting the stretch of the diaphragm, the said rigid member being so close to the last at all points about the same as alone to prevent so large a baying of the diaphragm between the last and the member as to result in undue strain of the diaphragm by the fluid by which it is backed.

22. A machine for laying soles having, in combination, a pressure box one wall of which comprises a flexible diaphragm, means for supporting a lasted shoe against pressure applied through the diaphragm, a pump constructed and arranged first to force fluid under pressure into the box and then to' withdraw fluid from it, means for operating the pump thereby forcing fluid under pressure against the diaphragm, thus distending the diaphragm and pressing a sole forcibly against a lasted shoe supported by the support, a valve constructed and arranged to control the pressure in the box, and means operating after a sole has been laid to close the valve while the pump is Withdrawing fluid from the box, thereby pulling the diaphragm from its pressure applying position.

23. A machine for laying soles having, in combination, a pressure box one wall of which comprises a flexible diaphragm, means for supporting a lasted shoe against pressure applied through the diaphragm, a liquid-containing cylinder connected to the pressure box, a piston in the cylinder, means for operating the piston to cause the piston to force fluid under pressure against the diaphragm, thus distending the diaphragm and pressing a sole forcibly against a lasted shoe supported by the support, and for thereafter withdrawing the piston, and a valve controlling the passage of fluid to and from the cylinder, and means for operating the valve constructed and arranged to open the valve during the withdrawing stroke of the piston but to close the valve as the piston approaches the end of its withdrawing stroke whereby the diaphragm is pulled from its pressure applying position.

, 24. Amachine forlayin soles having, in combination, a pressure box one wall of which comprises a flexible diaphragm, means for supporting a lasted shoe against pressure applied through the diaphragm, a liquidcontaining cylinder one end of which opens into the pressure box, a piston in the cylinder, means for operating the piston thereby causing the piston to force liquid under pressure against the diaphragm, thus distending the diaphragm and pressing a sole forcibly against a lasted shoe positioned on the diaphragm and thereafter withdrawing the piston, a valve controlling the passage of liquid to and from the cylinder and preventing the passage of liquid from the cylinder during the pressure applying movement of the piston until a predetermined pressure has been reached, and a cam for operating the valve formed and arranged to open the valve during the withdrawing stroke of the piston but to close the valve as the piston approaches the end of its withdrawing stroke whereby the diaphragm is pulled from its pressure applying position.

25. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a pressure box one wall of which com rises a flexible diaphragm upon which a lhsted shoe may be placed, a jack, means for moving the jack into a position just above but without exerting pressure upon the top of the last and for holding the jack stationary in that position, and means acting while the jack is so held for increasing the pressure in the box.

26. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a pressure box one wall .of which comprises a flexible diaphragm upon, which a lasted shoe may be placed, a support for the shoe located in the box beneath the diaphragm, a jack, means for moving the jack into a position just above but without exerting pressure upon the top of the last and for holding the jack stationary in that position, and means acting while the jack is so held for forcing fluid under pressure into the. box.

27. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a pressure box one wall of which comprises a flexible diaphragm, a jack-for supporting a lasted shoe against pressure applied through the diaphragm, means for moving the jack into a position just above the top of the last and for holding it stationary in that position, means independent of the jack for gripping the toe portion of the shoe, and means operating thereafter for forcing fluid under pressure into the box.

28. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a pressure box one wall of which comprises a flexible diaphragm, a jack for supporting a lasted shoe against pressure applied through the diaphragm, means for moving the jack into a position just above the top of the last and for holding it stationary in that position, a. plurality of plates, means for causing the plates to close about the shoe, means acting in. conjunction with one of the plates for gripping the toe portion of the shoe, and means operating after the toe portion has been gripped for forcing, fluid under pressure into the box.

29. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a ressure box one wall of which comprises a exible diaphragm, a jack for supporting a lasted shoe against pressure applied through the diaphragm, means for moving the jack into position above the last and for holding it stationary in that position, a front plate, two side plates, means for moving the front plate into operative position and for gri pin the toe portion of the shoe, means or t ereafter moving the side plates into operative position, and means becoming operative thereafter for forcing fluid under pressure into the box.

30. A machine for pressing a sole against the bottom of a lasted shoe having, in combination, a pressure box one wall of which comprises a flexible diaphragm upon which a shoe is placed, a jack for supporting the shoe against pressure applied through the diaphragm, a plurality of members for controlling dilation of the diaphra m, and means for closing said members a out the shoe above the level of the top of the forepart of the shoe after the shoe has been placed upon the diaphragm.

31. A machine for pressing a sole against the bottom of a shoe having, in combination, a pressure box for fluid one wall of which comprises a flexible diaphragm upon which a shoe is placed, a jack adapted to support the shoe against pressure applied through the diaphragm, means located outside the diaphragm for controlling dilation of the diaphragm, said means comprising members spaced apart to form an opening large enough to permit a shoe to be placed with its sole resting upon the diaphragm, and operator-controlled power-operated means acting after the shoe has been placed upon the diaphragm for operating the dilationcontrolling means to decrease the size of the opening.

32. A machine for pressing a sole against the bottom of a shoe having, in combination, a pressure box for fluid one wall of which comprises a, flexible diaphragm upon which a shoe is placed, a jack adapted to throu h the diaphra means located outor controlling dilation side t e dia hragm of the diaphragm, said means comprising members spaced apart to form an openin lar e enough to permit a shoe to be place wit its sole resting upon the diaphragm and operator-controlled power-operated means acting after the shoe has been placed upon the diaphragm for operating the dilatlon-controlling means to decrease the size of the o ening and for increasing the pressure of flhid in the box.

33. A machine for pressing a sole against the bottom of a shoe having, in combination, a pressure box for fluid one wall of which comprises a flexible dia hragm upon which a shoe is placed, a jac adapted to support the shoe against pressure applied through the diaphragm, means located outside the diaphragm for controlling dilation of the diaphragm, said means comprising members spaced apart to form an opening large enough to permit a shoe to be placed with its sole rest-ing upon the diaphragm, and operator-controlled power-operated means including a yielding member acting after the shoe has been placed upon the diaphragm for operating the dilation-controlling means to decrease the size of the opening.

34. A machine for pressing a sole against the bottom of a shoe having, in combination, a pressure box for fluid one wall of which comprises a flexible diaphragm upon which a shoe is placed, a jack adapted to support the shoe against pressure applied through the diaphragm, means located outside the diaphragm for controlling dilation of the diaphragm, said means comprising members spaced apart to form an opening large enough to permit a shoe to be placed with its sole resting upon the diaphragm, and operator-controlled power-operated means including a yielding member acting after the shoe has been placed upon the diaphragm for operating the dilation-controlling means to decrease the size of the opening and for increasing the pressure of fluid in the box.

35. A machine for pressing a sole against the bottom of a shoe having, in combination, a pressure box for fluid one wall of which comprises a flexible diaphragm, a jack adapted to support a shoe against pressure applied through the diaphragm, a plurality of plates located outside the diaphragm for controlling dilation of the diaphragm, said plates being spaced apart sufficiently to permit a shoe to be placed with its sole resting upon the diaphragm, and operator-controlled power-operated means acting after the shoe has been placed upon the diaphragm for causing said plates to move toward the shoe so as to decrease the space between them.

36. A machine for pressmg a sole agamst the bottom of a shoe having, in combination, a pressure box for fluid one wall of which comprises a flexible diaphra a jack adapted to support a shoe against pressure applied through the diaphragm, a plurality of plates located outside the dia hragm for controlling dilation of the diapIi ragm, said plates being spaced apart sufliciently' to permit a shoe to be placed with its sole resting upon the diaphragm, operator-controlled power-operated means acting after the shoe has been placed upon the diaphragm for causing said plates to move toward the shoe so as to decrease the space between them, and means for increasing the pressure of the fluid in the box.

37. A machine for pressing a sole against the bottom of a shoe having, 1n combination, a pressure box for fluid one wall of which comprises a flexible diaphragm, a jack adapted to support a shoe against pressure applied through the diaphragm, a plurality of plates located outside the diaphragm for controlling dilation of the diaphragm, said plates being spaced apart sufliciently to permit a shoe to be placed with its sole resting upon the diaphragm, operator-controlled power-operated means acting after the shoe has been placed upon the diaphragm for causing said plates to move toward the shoe so as to decrease the space between them, and means for forcing the diaphragm against the sole.

38. A machine for pressing a sole against the bottom of a. shoe having, in combination, a pressure box for fluid one wall of which comprises a flexible diaphragm upon which a shoe is placed, a jack adapted to support the shoe against pressure applied through the diaphragm, a plurality of members located outside the diaphragm and movable from outer to inner position, the inner edges of said members extending along adjacent portions of the shoe, and operator-controlled 'power-operated means acting after a shoe has been placed on the diaphragm for moving said members to inner position.

39. A machine for pressing a. sole against the bottom of a shoe having, in combination, a pressure box for fluid one wall of which comprises a flexible diaphragm upon which a shoe is placed, a jack adapted to support the shoe against pressure applied through the diaphragm, a plurality of members located outside the diaphragm and movable from outer to inner position, the inner edges of said members extending along adjacent portions of the shoe, and operatorcontrolled power-operated means acting after a shoe has been placed on the diaphragm for moving said members to inner position and for increasing the pressure of liquid in the box.

40. A machine for pressing a sole against the bottom of a shoe'having, in combination,

. which comprises a pressure box for fluid one wall of which comprises a flexible diaphragm, a jack adapted to support the shoe against pressure applied through the diaphragm, means located outside the diaphragm for controlling dilation of the diaphragm, said means comprising members spaced apart to form an opening large enough to permit a shoe to be placed with its sole resting upon the diaphragm, and operator-controlled poweractuated means acting after a shoe has been so placed for operating the dilation-controlling means to decrease the size of the opening and for forcing fluid into the box.

41. A machine for pressing a sole against the bottom of a shoe having, in combination, a pressure box for fluid one wall of which comprises a flexible diaphragm, a jack adapted to support the shoe against pressure applied through the diaphragm, means located outside the diaphragm for controlling dilation of the diaphragm, said means comprising members spaced apart to form an opening large enough to permit a shoe to be placed with its sole resting upon the diaphragm, and operator-controlled poweractuated means acting after a shoe has been so placed, said means including a yielding member for operating the dilation-controlling means to decrease the size of the opening and for forcing fluid into the box.

42. A machine for pressing a sole against the bottom of a lasted shoe having, in combination, a pressure box one wall of which comprises a flexible diaphragm, means for supporting a shoe again st pressure applied through the diaphragm, a plurality of members for controlling dilation of the diaphragm, said members enclosing an openin larger than the sole to permit the sole 0 the shoe to be placed upon the diaphragm, and power-operated means acting after the shoe has been so placed for moving said members inwardly to decrease the opening to a size smaller than that of the sole.

43. A machine for pressing a sole against the bottom of a lasted shoe having, in combination, a pressure box one wall of which comprises a flexible diaphragm, means for supporting a shoe against pressure applied through the diaphragm, a plurality of members for controlling dilation of the diaphragm, said members enclosing an opening through which the lower portion of the shoe may pass to permit the sole of the shoe to rest upon the diaphragm, and means operated after the shoe has been so placed for moving said members inwardly to close said members about the shoe above the level of the forepart of the shoe.

44. A machine for laying soles having, in combination, a pressure box one wall of a flexible diaphragm, means for supporting a lasted shoe against pressure applied through the diaphragm, 9.

pump, means for operating the pump first to force fluid under pressure into the box thus distending the diaphragm and pressing a sole firmly against the bottom of'the lasted shoe and then to withdraw fluid from the box, a reservoir for fluid into -which fluid may be forced and from which it may be withdrawn by the pump, a valve for controlling the flow of fluid, and means, operating after the sole has been laid and while the pump is still acting in a manner to withdraw fluid from the reservoir and the box to close the valve and thus prevent further withdrawal of fluid, so that, during the last part of its withdrawing movement, the pump pulls the diaphragm down.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

SIDNEY J. FINN. 

